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A few years ago, the browser wars were raging, with Microsoft Internet Explorer handily taking over a market once ruled by Netscape Navigator. Since then, Microsoft has pretty much had the field to itself, with Netscape (now owned by AOL) offering only token competition and Opera finding a niche market with the most devoted Web users.

Now the browser market is getting interesting again. Mozilla, based on the Gekko engine originally developed by Netscape and now in the public domain, has developed into a pretty good browser in its own right. Netscape has taken the basic code, added some AOL -specific features, and created Netscape 7.0, which AOL is expected to use in the next version of its popular software. With Windows XP Service Pack 1 giving computer makers and users the ability to hide end-user access to IE, there's more incentive for competition.

That doesn't mean, however, that we'll return to the days of major browser releases every six months. But browsers may start to include more organization and privacy features such as those now available as add-ons, as we discuss in our feature "The Bionic Browser." Internet Explorer is an excellent browser, but there's always more to do. I hope the renewed competition spurs Microsoft, Netscape, Mozilla, and Opera to improve their products.

Michael J. Miller's Forward Thinking Blog: forwardthinking.pcmag.com
Michael J. Miller is chief information officer at Ziff Brothers Investments, a private investment firm. From 1991 to 2005, Miller was editor-in-chief of PC Magazine, responsible for the editorial direction, quality and presentation of the world's largest computer publication.
Until late 2006, Miller was the Chief Content Officer for Ziff Davis Media, responsible for overseeing the editorial positions of Ziff Davis's magazines, websites, and events. As Editorial Director for Ziff Davis Publishing since 1997, Miller took an active role in...
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